Improvement in combined handle and sheath for pocket-knife blades



D. MANUEL & W. '1. WHITEHOUSE. COMBINED HANDLE AND SHEATH FOR POCKET-KNIFE BLADES, 800.

1 1,95 Patented. May Z2,-187'7.

@ZW w J WM UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE DAVID MANUEL, OF- READV'ILLE, AND WILLIAM T. WHITEHOUSE, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED HANDLE AND SHEATH FOR POCKET-KNIFE BLADES. &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I9l,063, dated May 22, 1877; application filed September 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DAVID MANUEL, of Readville, in the county of Norfolk, and VVIL- LIAM '1. WHrrEHousE, ofBoston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have inventeda Combined Handle and Sheath for Knife-Blades and other Implements, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of our combined handle and sheath with the knife-blade inclosed therein. Fig. 2 is a section through the center of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, representing 'the blade drawn out of its sheath in a position ready for use. Fig. 4 is a central section through the same. Fig. 5 is a section representing the blade within the sheath, the spring-catch for locking the blade in place being shown in a position to allow of its slidingout; Fig. 6, transverse section on the line a; a; of Fig. 2.

To provide a knife-blade or other implement with a handle, which may also serve as a sheath for it to slide in when not in use, and by which the blade or implement may, by the application of one hand only, be instantly brought out and locked in a position ready for use, is the object of our present invention, which consists in a combined handle and sheath, provided with a spring-catch, held at or near its middle, and having a projection at each end, for retaining the blade when open or closed, the pressure of the thumb upon the spring causing. it to release its hold on the blade to admit of the latter being slid out or in, after which the pressure is removed, and the blade or other implement locked in the required position.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use our invention, we will proceed to describe the manner in which we have carried it out. 1

In the said drawings, A is a knife-blade, provided at its heel with a circular hole, at, extending through it .in the direction of its thickness. This blade fits into a socket or receptacle, B, of rectangular form in crosssection, Fig. 6, which serves the double office of a handle and a sheath therefor. Upon one side of the handle or sheath, along its center, and extending longitudinally to near its ends, is placed a flat strip. b, of spring metal, kept in place by a bridgepiece, 0, passing transversely thereover, the strip b being provided at or'near each end with a projection, d, which enters the hole a in the heel of the blade, and looks it securely in place, the projection d near the open end of the sheath or holder fitting into the hole a when the blade is out, and the projection 01 near the closed end of the sheath or holder fitting into the hole a of the blade when slid therein out of sight, the strip b, with its projections d, serving as a spring-catch, O, for locking the blade when out or in.

When the blade is within its handle or sheath, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and it is desired for use, it is simply necessary to press the thumb against the spring at or near the point 8, at which place it is thus depressed, while its ends are both forced away from contact with the sheath or holder, (see Fig. 5,)

and the rear projection. 01 is caused to leave the hole a, in the heel of the blade, when, by a quick movement of the hand to the right, the blade is thrown out till its shoulder 9 comes against the shoulder 10 on the inside of the open end of the sheath or handle, after which the pressure of the thumb is removed, and the front projection d enters the hole a of the blade, keeping it securely in its open position. When theblade is out, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and it is desired to return it within its sheath, pressure is applied by the thumb, as before described, which causes the front projection d to be withdrawn from the hole a, when, by inclining the point of the blade upward, it is free to slide by its own gravity back into its sheath or holder, where it is locked and prevented from sliding out by the rear projection d on the removal of the pressure of the thumb from the spring-catch G.

Our invention is particularly useful to seafaring men in positions aloft, where one hand is employed in holding fast to prevent falling, as a knife may in such positions he conveniently opened and closed with one hand only.-

From the foregoing it will be seen that by constructing the handle of a knife-blade, screwdriver, corkscrew, or other implement in the manner herein described, we are enabled to dispense with the use of a separate sheath, and space is thus economized, as the blade can readily he slid therein, while at the same time the edge of the knife is protected from injury, and all liability of cuttingthe user is thereby avoided.

The projections (1 may be dispensed with, and the ends of the spring-catch C may be made to fit into a recess or against a shoulder formed in or on the blade without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combined handle and sheath B, with its double spring-catch 0, held by a bridge,

0, at or near the middle, so as to tilt each way, and provided at or near each end with a projection, d, engaging with the hole a, or its equivalent, in the blade A, constructed and operated substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. I

Witness our hands this 7th day of September, 1876.

'DAVID MANUEL.

WILLIAM T. WHITEHOUSE.

Witnesses to signature of William 1. Whitehouse:

N. W. STEARNS, P. E. TESOHEMAOHER.

Witnesses to signature of David Manuel:

JAMES GRANT, (H10. 1. MANUEL. 

